Multiple-use bag means and clamp for a vacuum cleaner



J. M. FEELEY June 29, 1965 MULTIPLE-USE BAG MEANS AND CLAMP FOR A VACUUM CLEANER Filed NOV. 18, 1963 INVEN TOR. JOHN M FEELEY FIG.5

United States Patent 3,191,365 I 7 MULTIPLE-USE BAG MEANS AND CLAMP FOR A VACUUM CLEANER John M. Feeley, 21 Alaska -Ave., Bedford, Mass. Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,579 4 Claims. (Cl. 55-369) The present invention comprises a combination multiple-use bag means and clamp for a vacuum cleaner including an air-transmissive dust-non-transmissive bag (usually a throw-away bag) of thin-sheet filter material defining a hollow interior chamber and having a vacuum cleaner connection end provided with vacuum cleaner connection means for removableconnection to a dirty air inlet portion of a vacuum cleaner and having exit aperture means at one or more other locations (usually the opposite end thereof) provided with resiliently biased and normally closed clamp means exteriorly engaging and controllably removably closing same.

The above arrangement-makes it possible for the throwaway bag to be used until full of dust and other debris, after which it can be readily emptied by merely removing the clamp means so as to make it possibleto completely open the large exit aperture means for the purpose of quickly emptying out the dirt and debris into a trash receptacle, or the like. Then the clamp means can be replaced over the large exit aperture means in a manner completely closing it and the throw-away bag can be reused.

This use, emptying, and reuse cycle can be repeated a number of times until the bag becomes flimsy or. until the pores of the filter material of which the bag is composed become so clogged with dust and debris as to become virtually non-air-transmissive;

This repeated reuse of the throw-away. bag greatly reduces the cost of each use thereof over the conventional prior art procedure which is to use the throw-away bag once until it is full and then to throw it away with the debris still contained therein.

It should be noted that the invention is directed to the novel combination of the bag and clamp means and to the subcombination forms of the invention comprising said elements, per se.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the character referred to above which is of extremely simple, inexpensive, foolproof construction such as to be conducive to widespread use of the device.

Further objects are implicit in the detailed description which follows hereinafter and will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after a careful study thereof.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, one exemplary embodiment is illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying single drawing sheet and is described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary form of the multiple-use bag means and clamp of the present invention shown inmounted operative relationship with respect to the dirty air inlet portion of a vacuum cleaner. It should be noted that the vacuum cleaner is shown fragmentarily and only one portion thereof having the dirty air inlet is illustrated in FIG. 1. Actually, the hollow dish-shaped portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in FIG. 1 is adapted to be inverted from the upsidedown position shown in FIG. 1 (which corresponds to that which it assumes when removedfrom the remainder of the vacuum cleaner) and is adapted to then be engaged with respect to the remaining portion of the vacuum cleaner which carries the vacuum cleaner motor and suction fan means therein whereby to apply suction through the bag means and the dirty air inlet means shown in FIG. 1 to a longitudinal flexible duct means and applicator means (neither one of which is shown since such are well known in the art) which a person using the vacuum cleaner will normally place against a surface which is to be cleaned. However, various other types of vacuum cleaner means may be employed in lieu of the fragmentary portion shown in FIG. 1 of the particular type of vacuum cleaner just referred to.

FIG. 2 isan enlarged view, taken in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1 but showing the vacuum cleaner cover portion of FIG. 1 inverted into its normal use position and-also showing it in mounted engaged relationshipwith respect to the remainder of the vacuum cleaner, the interior detail of which is not shown since such vacuum cleaners are well known in the art. This view is primarily a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 with respect to the inverted vacuum cleaner cover portion and is primarily an elevational view with respect to the remainder of the vacuum cleaner. Also, a handle for the vacuum cleaner cover portion which was omitted from the upside down view comprising FIG. 1, for reasons of drawing simplification and clarity, is shown connected to the-vacuum cleaner cover portion in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the novel multiple-use bag means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but illustrating it after the clamp means of the present invention has been removed from the open end to facilitate emptying out the debris from the interior thereof into a suitable trash receptacle or the like.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken-inthe direction of the arrows 44 of FIG. 2 and illustrates the lower portion of the novel clamp means of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken in the direction -of the arrows 55 of FIG. 2 and illustrates the upper portion of the novel. clamp means ,of FIGS. 1 and 2. a .It shouldfbe noted that the novel multiple-use bag means and clamp therefor of the present inventionmay be used with a great variety of different types of vacuum cleaners, all of which are characterized by the inclusion of motor means and suction fan means or the like, operated by the motor means and a chamber means adapted to contain the multiple-use bag means and clamp of the present invention in mounted relationship with respect to a dirty air inlet means or portion. of the vacuum cleaner, with the relationship of the suction fan means being such as to apply suction to said dirty air inlet means or portion of the vacuum cleaner through the multiple-usebag means of the present invention, which has its open end clamped closed by the novel clamp means of the present invention.

Normally, the dirty air inlet portion of the vacuum cleaner is adapted to have any of a plurality of conduit means of either a rigid or flexible type connected to the exterior thereof so as to be manually extendable by an operator of the vacuum cleaner to aregion which is to be cleaned. Furthermore, the remote 'end of said exterior conduit means may normally be provided with one or more interchangeable applicator heads to facilitate the dislodgment of dust or dirt from a surface which is to be cleaned. Said exterior conduit means and/or applicator headsare not shown in the drawings illustrating the present invention since they are well known in the art and are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, which is also true with respect to the interior detail of the portion of the vacuum means which carries the motor and the suction fan means referred to above.

Actually, the only portion of the vacuum cleaner which is illustrated in FIG. 1 is a controllably engageable and disengageable vacuum cleaner cover portion, indicated generally at 15, which is provided with handle means indicated (not shown in FIG. 1, but at H in FIG. 2) for facilitating the engagement and disengagement thereof with respect to the remainder of the vacuum cleaner, indicated generally at V in FIG. 2, and with said vacuum cleaner cover portion 15 defining the chamber indicated generally at C, which is adapted to receive and carry the multiple-use bag means therein having one end 12 in engaged relationship with respect to the vacuum cleaner dirty air inlet means or portion, indicated generally at 14. It will be understood that when the engagement edges E of the vacuum cleaner cover portion are sealingly engaged with respect to the lower portion of a conventional type of vacuum cleaner, such as that indicated at V in FIG. 2, which has a motor and suction fan therein, operation of said motor and suction fan will apply suction to the dirty air inlet 14 through the porous air-transmissive, dust-non-transmissive, throw-away bag of thin-sheet filter material, indicated generally at 10.

References made hereinafter to the vacuum cleaner are to be understood as referring to the complete vacuum cleaner V (including the motor and suction fan portion) sealingly engaged with respect to and cooperating with,

respect to the edges E of the vacuum cleaner hollow cover portion 15.

As referred to above, the exemplary form of the invention includes an air-transmissive, dust-non -transmissive throw-away bag of thin-sheet filter material, indicated generally at 10, which defines a hollow interior chamber 11 and which has a vacuum cleaner connection end 12 provided with vacuum cleaner connection means, indicated generally at 13, adapted for removable connection to a dirty air inlet portion, such as is indicated generally at14, of a vacuum cleaner V, a cover portion of which is indicated generally at 15.

It should be noted that the throw-away bag 10 normally rests upon an apertured supporting tray T carried by the lower portion of the vacuum cleaner V whereby to support the bag 10 when suction is applied thereto.

The throw-away bag 10 is also provided with exit aperture means at another location which, in the example illustrated, comprises one aperture at the opposite end thereof, as indicated generally at 16, which is provided with, and is normally closed by, resiliently biased clamp means, such as is indicated generally at 17, which exteriorly engages and controllably removably closes the exit aperture means 16 until such time as the clamp means 17 is controllably removably disengaged and detached therefrom, allowing the bag 10 to open in the manner shown in FIG. 3 for the purpose of emptying dirt and debris, such as are indicated generally at 18, from the interior chamber 11 by way of the fully-open exit aperture means 16.

The clamp means 17, in the specific example illustrated, comprises two opposed similarly transversely directed blade-like jaw members 19 and 20 provided with rearwardly projecting spaced digitally engageable operating members 21 and 22 and interconnecting ear members 23 provided with transversely aligned aperture means 25 and pivot pin means 26 carried thereby, whereby to effectively rotatably mount the two jaw members 19 and 20 for relative rotative movement about the axis of the pivot pin means 26.

The clamp means 17 also includes biasing spring means 27 carried by the pivot pin 26 and having end portions 27A in forcible engagement with the inside of the operating member 21 and having another. spring portion 27B in engagement with the inside of the other operating member 22 whereby to bias said operating members outwardly away from each other and to thus bias the jaw members 19 and 20 toward closed engagement with each other or with the thin-sheet wall portions 28 of the bag cover portion 15 with the clamp 17 clamped across and effectively closing the large exit aperture means 16 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The vacuum cleaner may then be used in a normal cleaning manner and dirty air will flow into the chamber '11 and then through the air transmissive pores of the thin-sheet filter material F of which the throw-away bag 10 is made, thus leaving the dirt, dust, and debris within the chamber 11.

As soon as the throw-away bag 10 is filled with such dirt, dust, and debris as indicated at 18 in FIG. 2, the vacuum cleaner connection means 13 may be removed from the dirty air inlet 14 and the filled bag may be taken to a trash container, at which location the resilient clamp means 17 may be removed so that the large exit aperture means 16 may be fully opened for the purpose of quickly emptying the dirt and debris 18 into the trash container.

Then the resilient clamp means 17 may be reclamped in closing engagement across the exit aperture end 16 of the bag 10 and the vacuum cleaner connection means 13 may be reconnected with respect to the dirty air inlet portion 14 of the vacuum cleaner cover portion 15, and the throw-away bag 10 may be reused again.

This operation may be repeated as often as desired until the thin-sheet filter material F of which the throwaway bag 11) is made becomes damaged through wear and clogging to an extent such as to render it partially inoperative or ineffective, at which time it may be thrown away and a new interchangeable bag, such as that shown at 10, may be used to replace it and may be re-engaged with respect to the dirty air inlet 14 and may have its exit aperture 16 clamped in closed relationship by the clamp means 17. i

The clampmeans 17 is preferably made of plastic or other non-marring material and is preferably so formed and shaped as to have few projections. This is for the purpose of facilitating its insertion into the vacuum cleaner and to prevent any marring of the interior thereof by portions of the clamp means.

It should be noted that the bag 10 may be made of various types of air-transmissive, dust-non-transmissive material and is not necessarily limited to being made of filter paper'or substantial equivalents thereof. Indeed, in certain'forms ofthe invention, it may be made of other materials and may be adapted to be reused many, many times to a degree such as to no longer be considered to be a throw-away or disposable bag.

While the presentinvention has been described and illustrated in connection with one specific type of throwaway bag, it should be noted that the invention is not specifically so limited. Actually, various types of bags may be employed, and the clamp means for closing the large exit aperture means thereof may also be modified within the basic spirit, scope, and teachings of the present invention.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

I claim: 7

1. A multiple-use bag and clamp means for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: an air-transmissive dust-non-trans missive bag means of thin-sheet filter material defining a hollow interior chamber and having a vacuum cleaner connection end provided with vacuum cleaner connection means cooperable for removable sealed connection to a dirty air inlet portion of a vacuum cleaner, and having exit aperture-defining means at another location provided with clamp means exteriorly engaging and controllably removably closing said exit aperture-defining means, said clamp means comprising two opposed similarly transversely directed, substantially flat blade-like jaw members provided with rearwardly projecting spaced digitally engageable operating members and interconnecting ear members provided with transversely aligned aperture means and pivot pin means carried thereby, said pivot pin means being provided with biasing torsion spring means having at least one portion thereof in forcible engagement with the inside of one of said operating portions and having at least one other portion thereof spaced from said first mentioned portion in forcible engagement with the inside of the other of said operating members for biasing it outwardly away from the first mentioned one of said operating members.

2. A multiple-use bag and clamp means for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: an air-transmissive dust-non-transmissive bag means of thin-sheet filter material defining a hollow interior chamber and having a vacuum cleaner connection end provided with vacuum cleaner connection means cooperable for removable sealed connection to a dirty air inlet portion of a vacuum cleaner, and having exit aperture-defining means at another location provided with clamp means exteriorly engaging and controllably removably closing said exit aperture-defining means, said clamp means comprising two opposed similarly transversely directed, substantially fiat blade-like jaw members provided with rearwardly projecting spaced digitally engageable operating members and interconnecting ear members provided with transversely aligned aperture means and pivot pin means carried thereby, said pivot pin means being provided with biasing torsion spring means having at least one portion thereof in forcible engagement with the inside of one of said operating portions and having at least one other portion thereof spaced from said first mentioned portion in forcible engagement with the inside of the other of said operating members for biasing it outwardly away from the first mentioned one of said operating members, said exit aperture-defining means defining an opening at the opposite end of said bag means from the vacuum cleaner connection means and extending completely across said bag means and lying, together with adjacent portions of said bag means, when closed, in substantially flat spatulate configuration with said clamp means exteriorly engaging, and lying across, the transverse end thereof.

3. An interchangeable, multiple-use, disposable, throwaway bag means and cooperating clamp means for a vacuurn cleaner, comprising: an interchangeable air-transmissive dust-non-transmissive disposable throw-away bag of a plurality of similar bags of thin-sheet filter paper material defining a hollow interior chamber and having a vacuum cleaner connection end provided with vacuum cleaner connection means cooperable for removable sealed connection to a dirty air inlet portion of a vacuum cleaner, and having exit aperture-defining means at another location provided with a clamp exteriorly engaging and controllably removably closing said exit aperture-defining means, said resiliently biased clamp comprising two opposed similarly transversely directed, substantially flat blade-like jaw members provided with rearwardly projecting spaced digitally engageable operating members and interconnecting ear members provided with transversely aligned aperture means and pivot pin means carried thereby, said pivot pin means being provided with biasing torsion spring means having at least one portion thereof in forcible engagement with the inside of one of said operating portions and having at least one other portion thereof spaced from said first mentioned portion in forcible engagement with the inside of the other of said operating members for biasing it outwardly away from the first mentioned one of said operating members, said clamp being removably interchangeably engageable in said closing relationship with respect to the aperture-defining means of any one of a plurality of interchangeable similar ones of said disposable throw-away bags.

4. An interchangeable, multiple-use, disposable, throwaway bag means and cooperating clamp means for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: an interchangeable air-transmissive dust-non-transmissive disposable throw-away bag of a plurality of similar bags of thin-sheet filter paper material defining a hollow interior chamber and having a vacuum cleaner connection end provided with vacuum cleaner connection means cooperable for removable sealed connection to a dirty air inlet portion of a vacuum cleaner, and having exit aperture-defining means at another location provided with a clamp exteriorly engaging and controllably removably closing said exit aperture-defining means, said resiliently biased clamp comprising two opposed similarly transversely directed, substantially fiat blade-like jaw members provided with rearwardly projecting spaced digitally engageable operating members and interconnecting ear members provided with transversely aligned aperture means and pivot pin means carried thereby, said pivot pin means being provided with biasing torsion spring means having at least one portion thereof in forcible engagement with the inside of one of said operating portions and having at least one other portion thereof spaced from said first mentioned portion in forcible engagement with the inside of the other of said operating members for biasing it outwardly away from the first mentioned one of said operating members, said clamp being removably interchangeably engageable in said closing relationship with respect to the aperture-defining means of any one of a plurality of interchangeable similar ones of said disposable throw-away bags, said exit aperture-de fining means defining an opening at the opposite end of said bag from the vacuum cleaner connection means and extending completely across said bag and lying, together with adjacent portions of said bag, when closed, in substantially flat spatulate configuration with said clamp exteriorly engaging, and lying across, the transverse end thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,019,348 3/ 12 Northam 24-66 2,621,757 12/52 Anderson 22962 3,086,264 4/ 63 Tindali 229-65 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. 

1. A MULTIPLE-USE BAG AND CLAMP MEANS FOR A VACUUM CLEANER, COMPRISING: AN AIR-TRANSMISSIVE DUST-NON-TRANSMISSIVE BAG MEANS OF THIN-SHEET FILTER MATERIAL DEFINING A HOLLOW INTERIOR CHAMBER AND HAVING A VACUUM CLEANER CONNECTION END PROVIDED WITH VACUUM CLEANER CONNECTION MEANS COOPERABLE FOR REMOVABLE SEALED CONNECTION TO A DIRTY AIR INLET PORTION OF A VACUUM CLEANER, AND HAVING EXIT APERTURE-DEFINING MEANS AT ANOTHER LOCATION PROVIDED WITH CLAMP MEANS EXTERIORLY ENGAGING AND CONTROLLABLY REMOVABLY CLOSING SAID EXIT APERTURE-DEFINING MEANS, AND CLAMP MEANS COMPRISING TWO OPPOSED SIMILARLY TRANSVERSELY DIRECTED, SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BLADE-LIKE JAW MEMBERS PROVIDED WITH REARWARDLY PROJECTING SPACED DIGITALLY ENGAGEABLE OPERATING MEMBERS AND INTERCONNECTING EAR MEMBERS PROVIDED WITH TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED APERTURE MEANS AND PIVOT PIN MEANS CARRIED THEREBY, SAID PIVOT PIN MEAN BEING PROVIDED WITH BIASING TORSION SPRING MEANS HAVING AT LEAST ONE PORTION THEREOF IN FORCIBLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INSIDE OF ONE OF SAID OPERATING PORTIONS AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE OTHER PORTION THEREOF SPACED FROM SAID FIRST MENTIONED PORTION IN FORCIBLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INSIDE OF THE OTHER OF SAID OPERATING MEMBERS FOR BIASING IT OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM THE FIRST MENTIONED ONE OF SAID OPERATING MEMBERS. 